With temperature accuracy a given, CR focuses our testing on ease of use-taking note of how simple each thermostat is to set up, program, read, and operate.įor programmable thermostats, the ease of use testing is broken down into four aspects of the product experience: setup, ease of reading the display, programming, and manual operation. It’s for this reason that we no longer test manual thermostats-all they do is hold a set temperature. And while once upon a time they weren’t very accurate, most now are able to keep rooms close to the set temperature. For more smart thermostat options in every price range, see our smart thermostat ratings.Īt Consumer Reports, we’ve tested hundreds of thermostat models over the years. Google released a new Nest Thermostat model in 2020 that now costs $100, while smart home startup Wyze has a smart thermostat that costs about $75. Last, smart thermostats are becoming much more affordable. For more information on wireless temperature sensors and smart air vents, check out our guide to getting the right temperature in every room of your home. There are also a handful of startups making smart air vents, which connect to select smart thermostats and redirect the airflow of forced air HVAC systems for better heating and cooling. Now, most new smart thermostats offer these sensors. The world of thermostats moves at a much slower pace than those of more popular electronics, such as smartphones and computers, but there are still some notable changes happening in the industry, especially around smart thermostats.Įcobee was a pioneer when its smart thermostats began using wireless remote temperature sensors, which can be placed in areas away from the thermostat to more accurately heat and cool rooms that might run too hot or too cold. To see which programmable thermostats ace our usability tests, check out our guide to the best programmable thermostats. In our tests, the top-performing programmable thermostats received ratings of Excellent for ease of programming and Very Good for manually changing the temperature. Some of the user interface improvements created for smart thermostats have also trickled down into non-connected, programmable thermostats, making some of them a more easy-to-use option for consumers who don’t want an internet-connected model. For top-performing smart thermostats that will save you energy and money, see our guide to the best smart thermostats. As of June 2022, 64 smart thermostats have received Energy Star certification, and that number is likely to continue to grow. The packaging label makes it easy for you to know which smart models will help lower your energy bills. The idea is to move beyond needing to program the thermostat altogether.Īs a result, Energy Star launched a certification specifically for smart thermostats in January 2017. Smart thermostats can also factor in your local weather forecast and "learn" your temperature preferences through sensors and computer algorithms. More important, smart thermostats connect to the internet via WiFi, allowing you to change the temperature at home through an app on your smartphone wherever you happen to be-as easily as you would check your bank account balance. They tend to have simple controls and touch-screen displays that make programming easier. Smart thermostats, however, are gaining popularity. You can do that manually every time you go to bed or leave the house, or program your thermostat to do it for you on a schedule. That’s a problem because a thermostat can save you money on your energy bill only when it’s set to use less energy. In fact, according to a study (PDF) published in the Energy Research & Social Science journal, 40 percent of programmable thermostat owners don’t use the programming feature to set schedules. For that reason, Energy Star stopped certifying the entire product category in 2009. homes-can also provide energy savings.īut for years, the problem has been that they’re too difficult to program for many consumers. (Some thermostat manufacturers claim those savings can reach $100 or more.) Of course, non-connected, programmable thermostats-which, according to the Energy Information Administration (PDF) are used in about 42 percent of U.S. A smart thermostat can shave about 8 percent off your home’s heating and cooling bills, amounting to an average savings of $50 a year, according to Energy Star. By monitoring and controlling the temperature in each part of your home, a responsive thermostat is key to keeping your home comfortable.Īnd some thermostats can save you money. A thermostat is the brains behind your home’s heating and cooling system, whether that system consists of a heat pump, furnace, boiler, or central AC.
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